Evaluation of risk factors in wheezy infants

• Main Authors: Müsemma Karabel, Selvi Kelekçi, Tuba Tuncel, Velat Şen, Duran Karabel, Ünal Uluca, İlhan Tan, M. Fuat Gürkan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Modestum Publishing LTD 2013-09-01
• Series: Journal of Clinical and Experimental Investigations
• Subjects: Respiratory distress; wheezy; infant; risk factors
• Online Access: http://www.jceionline.org/upload/sayi/18/JCEI-00854.pdf

Objectives: In this study, it was aimed to investigate theenvironmental risk factors and demographic characteristicsof wheezy infants.Methods: A total of 118 children aged 6-24 months, investigatedin two subgroups as first wheezing and recurrentwheezing infants. Age and sex matched, healthy 60children were recruited as the control group. Questionnairewas filled by the parents including knowledge aboutsocio-demographic features, history of familial and personalatopy, age at wheezing onset, parental education,smoking and stove heating at home, familial crowdingindex and child’s immunization status.Results: First wheezing group included 52, recurrentwheezing group included 66 patients. There was no statisticallysignificant difference between study group and thecontrols in terms of sociodemographic features (p>0.05).Low educational level of mothers and maternal smoking inthe study group was found to be significantly higher thancontrols (p<0.05). Family history of atopic diseases wassignificantly higher in the study group compared with thecontrol group. Atopic dermatitis was significantly higher inrecurrent wheezing subgroup and was significantly higherin the study group compared with the control group. Theratio of non-vaccinated children was significantly higher inthe study group (31%) than the controls (6.7%), and was%6.7 in controls.Conclusion: Maternal smoking and educational level,stove heating at home and lack of immunization are preventableenvironmental risk factors in wheezing infants.Examining risk factors and giving counseling can preventrecurrent hospitalizations and permanent bronchial damage.J Clin Exp Invest 2013; 4 (3): 347-351Key words: Respiratory distress, wheezy, infant, risk factors